Welcome to Hyperion Records, an independent British classical label devoted to presenting high-quality recordings of music of all styles and from all periods from the twelfth century to the twenty-first.

Hyperion offers both CDs, and downloads in a number of formats. The site is also available in several languages.

Please use the dropdown buttons to set your preferred options, or use the checkbox to accept the defaults.

Don't show me this message again

Vestro Principi divino, RV633

Introduction

This solo motet, whose text paraphrases part of Psalm 23 (24 in Protestant bibles) and quotes part of the rite of the Paschal Vigil (the praise of Easter at the blessing of the Paschal Candle expressed in the words ‘O felix culpa quae talem meruit habere Redemptorem’), must have been composed for the conclusion of Holy Week. Bibliographical factors suggest a date around 1715.

Unusually, the autograph manuscript leaves out the composer’s name. It likewise fails to identify the singer for whom it was composed, although that is less unexpected. In fact, the character of the contralto part and its accompaniment make it very likely that the singer was Geltruda (1684-1752), one of the Pietà’s leading musicians in the 1710s. Typically for a figlia di coro, Geltruda was active in more than a single capacity, being also a theorboist and a viola player. As a singer, she had a very narrow compass (the vocal part in RV633 stretches from Middle C only as far as the D a ninth above it) and a rather weak voice; a composer had to take care, as Vivaldi does, not to allow it to be drowned by the instruments. It is for this reason that when the contralto sings she is either accompanied by continuo alone or her part is doubled by violins.

Recordings

'A superb release of little-heard Vivaldi … Volume 6 of this series was a Gramophone Award nominee this year and I see no possible reason why thi ...'Quite frankly, this is the kind of disc that wins awards. Yet again, it’s congratulations to Hyperion. If you haven’t yet sampled this series, start ...» More

'For King's sterling service to the Vivaldian cause, one of his most important recording and satisfying projects to date, I am thankful' (Gramophone)'If you're waiting for the perfect collection of Vivaldi's sacred music, this is it. It was a happy day when this beautiful boxed set arrived in my m ...» More